Apparatus for vulcanizing rubber goods.



No; 858,406. :PATENTED JULY 2, 1907'.

T. MIDGLEY. I

APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZING RUBBER GOODS.

APPLIOATION FILED Am 1905.

LAM AM. W M r vww-vvr tjfld dike cue? v To, bu whom it may concern:

r'ri onis MI DGL'EYQOF HUAR'TFORED,CONNECTICUT.

arrsna'rns FOB vULcA NIz InG anisha n boobs.

Be it known that I, THOMAS MIDGLEY, a citizen of the United States,residingin Hartford, flartiord county, onnecticut, have invented anewand useful improvement in Apparatus ior Vulcanizing Rubber Goods,ofwhichthe following is aspecification.

This invention relates to apparatus for vulcanizing rubber goods, and ithas particular reference to apparatus for vulcanizing the outer shoesor'casings of pneumatic tires. Q

' lh'e primary object of the invention is to provide apparatus wherebyshoes or casings for pneumatic tires outer shoe or casing of a pneumatictire of the Dunlopf type. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the pre-'lerred mode of constructing the compression jacket.

Referring to the drawing by the reference characters, 1 designates acore of any suitable material and of annular form upon which thevulcanized tire shoe or casing 'l is seated. Annular clamping members 2engage the marginal portions of the tire shoe and hold the shoe inproper position upon the core. Channeled rings 3 fitted in suitableseats therefor upon the clamping memhers 2, or formed integral with saidclamping memhers, are provided for a purpose which will hereinafter beexplained. A cover or wrapping 4 is carried around the tire shoe and theclamping members 2 and channeled rings 3, as clearly shown in thedrawing. This wrapping or cover is preierably formed of thin cottoncloth \yhich'is bothhighly porous and characterized by considerabletensile strength, so that it forms an effective binder for the tire shoewhich will hold it in form during the process of vulcanization and alsopermit the order to produce a greater degree of pressure I apply overthat portion of the wrapping or covering 4 which lies in direct contactwith the tire shoe or casing, a jacket 6 which is preferably formed ofhelices or coils Specification Letters ll?alterit.' Application onAugust 4, 1906. Serialllo.329,142.

- rattrlteu July 2,1907.

' of wire fi and wires or cables 6 for connecting thecoils,

and subject this jacket to anydesireo degree of pressure serves simplyas a medium for transmitting the presswept the clamping members 7 to thestock of thetire 7 shoe or casing-without'preventing access ofthe heatedgas or vapor'toithe tire slioe or casing duxinglthe vulcani'zin gprocess. nsthe jacket isforin edlof interlaced coils of wire and isof'thoroughly open structure, free passage of gas or vapor therethroughis permitted and the stiffness of the individual coils or helices issuch that any. suitable degree of pressure can be transmitted throughthem to the textile covering or wrapping 4 and thence to'the underlyingmaterial of'the tire shoe or casing. 1 v

he peculiarlstructure of the jacket 6 makes it a very effective mediumfor transmitting the pressure of the clamping, or mold, members'7,"because the individual coils or helices of which it is composed opposeresistance to compression, while the jacket as an entirety changes itsform and size very readily under pressure and also serves veryeffectively to prevent distortion of the tire shoe under the heavypressure of the clamping members.

I have illustrated the invention as' embodied in apparatus adapted toapply the additional pressure only over the tread of the tire shoe orcasing and the adjoLcen't portions or the sides, as it is upon theseportions of the tire shoe or casing that the heaviest wear is receivedand where there is the greatest need of dense, homogeneous material. Itis obvious, however, that the apparatusnuiycasily be modiiicd soto-pcrmit the production ,of the additionhl prcsslnc'ovcr the entireouter surface of the tire shoe 'or'casing and also to afford access ofthe heated gas or apor to the entire outer surface of the shoe or casingduring the vulcanizing pro -ss.

Ail-er the apparatus shown in the drawing has been assembled in themanner indicated, suitable securing devices are employed to hold therings 5 and the clamping members 7 in position and the entire structureis then subjected to the action of heat in a vulcanizing chainbcru Thisheal, may be dry ormoist, pro.- ierred, but live steam at suitablepressure is generally deemed prdlemble.

The appaiatusdcscribcd and illustrated fulfils both objects of theinvention, and I prefer to make use oi apparatus characterized by allthe generic features of that; it is not essential to the attainment ofthe primary object of the invention that provision be made for theaccess of a heated gas or vapor to the surface of the tire sin c orcasing. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddosireto secure by Lettcrs latont is:-

1-. In uppurntus of the character described. means for supporting anunvulcauizcd rubber ""le iu'lorni with :r.

portion of the outer surface exposed, a porous covering for the exposed'outer surface of said article, and means for applying pressure directlyto said porous covering over the exposed surface of the rubber articlewithout preventingaccess of gas or 'raporto the surface over which thepressure is applied.

2. In apparatus ofthe character described, means for supporting annnvuicanized rubber article in form with a portion of its-surfaceexposed, a porous covering for the exposed surface of said article, aflexible jacket of shell of open construction overlying said porouscovering, and means forsubjecting said jacket or shell'to pressure andthereby compressing the rubber a/rticle without preventing access of gasor vapor thereto.

3. I n apparatus of the character described, the com'bination with meansfor supportingan unvulcanize'd rubber artlcie'in form with a portion ofthe surface exposed, of aporous covering for the exposed surface of saidarticle, a jacket or shell formed of wire helices or coils overlyingsaid covering, and means for subjecting said jacket to pressure andthereby compressing said rubber article without preventing access of gasor vapor thereto.

4. in apparatus of the character-described, the combination with meansfor su'pportlpgan article ofunvuicanized rubber inform with a portion ofthe surface exposed of a textile covering for said exposed surface, andmeans for applying pressure to said covering over said exposed surfacewithout preventing access of gas or vapor to said covering. v

5. In apparatus-of the character described, the combination with a corefor a tire. shoe or casing, of means for securing the tire. shoe orcasing thereon with a portion of its surface exposed, .mea'ns for hoiding the tire shoe or casing in form, and means for applying pressure tothe exposed surface of the tire shoe or casing without preventing accessof gas or'vapor thereto during the process'of vulcanization. a 6. Inapparatusiof the character described, the combination with means forsupporting an unvuicanized rubber THOMAS M'IDGLEY.

Witnesses: WM. BRADFORD,

Bax'rnn liOltlON;

